ACNA Archbishop Must be Inhibited say Chorus of Concerned Laity

Our Vows and the Protection of the Flock Demand it, they say

By David W. Virtue, DD

www.virtueonline.org

November 16, 2025

Some 150 concerned laity have written an open letter to the ACNA College of Bishops saying Archbishop Steve Wood must be inhibited.

“We suggest that the archbishop be inhibited until the conclusion of the trial that will determine his guilt or innocence,” they argue.

Vows are not small matters in the Anglican tradition, they contend. The exhortation tells clergy of our duties:

I now exhort you, in the Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ, to be a messenger, watchman, and steward of the Lord. Remember how great is this treasure committed to your charge. They are the sheep of Christ for whom he shed his blood. The Church and Congregation whom you will serve is his bride, his body. If the Church, or any of her members, is hurt or hindered by your negligence, you must know both the gravity of your fault, and the grievous judgment that will result (BCP 488–489 emphasis added).

As clergy in the ACNA, attending to the matter of Archbishop Wood's accusation is part of our pastoral duties and the care of our local congregations.  

There is much that would be presumptuous to comment on at this early stage. We do not write this letter with any presumption about what this investigation will reveal or what its final outcome will be. We will limit our focus to a single salient issue: Given the seriousness of the charges against our Archbishop (sexual harassment and abuse of power), we believe that a voluntary leave of absence is insufficient.

Canonically, a voluntary leave of absence allows the Archbishop to return to office when he sees fit. Instead, we suggest that the Archbishop be inhibited until the conclusion of the trial that will determine his guilt or innocence. If such a request is not granted we believe that we as clergy deserve to hear from the College of Bishops why they believe that such a step is not warranted. We understand the weight of this request and do not make it flippantly.

In the Anglican tradition, an inhibition is not a statement about the guilt or innocence of the accused. According to our canons, “An Inhibition is a temporary suspension of a Bishop (including the Archbishop), a Presbyter, or a Deacon from the exercise of ministry (Canon 9, section 1). ” It is by its very nature “temporary.”

There are two requirements for an inhibition. First, there must be “ reasonable grounds” to believe that the accused has engaged in conduct upon which they may be presented. The Archbishop has already been presented. Since the litigation of that presentation is a matter for our court systems, it does not appear to be the job of those in authority to determine Archbishop Wood’s guilt or innocence before an inhibition. That would require those in authority to engage in an investigation not required by canon. 

Therefore, in a case where there has already been a presentment, an inhibition may be deemed “reasonable” based upon the sworn testimony of the presentment itself. Stated differently, our canons suggest that if the charges are of sufficient seriousness and of initial viability then the accused may be inhibited until the truthfulness of said charges can be discerned. We believe this case meets that standard.

 The second requirement is that “it is in the best interests of the church to do so, pending an accusation, canonical investigation, presentment, trial, or voluntary submission to discipline (Canon 9,section 1).” We believe that given these charges, this case also meets that standard.  

Again our goal is not to presume guilt, but to give space to investigate and discern guilt or innocence with all possible protections in place.

We know that inhibition is not a matter for the entire College of Bishops. Instead, “In the case of the presentment of a Bishop of this Church (including the Archbishop), three of the five senior active diocesan members of the College of Bishops by date of consecration (exclusive of any bishop involved in the presentment or trial) may, by their affirmative vote, temporarily inhibit the Bishop from the exercise of ministry. Such inhibition shall be in writing, signed by those consenting to it.”

Nonetheless, we believe that in this circumstance it would be prudent for the college as a whole to meet in council with those tasked to make this decision and inform them of your opinion on the matter to aid in their discernment. We then would respectfully request to hear from house on this matter because we believe that you are tasked with the care of the flock of God which includes the clergy and laity under your care. You have been given the weighty charism and task of leadership and protection. You can be assured of our prayers.

Clergy interested in supporting this call can add their names here.

We plan to submit this letter along with its signatures to the College of Bishops on the Feast of Christ the King, the last Sunday of Ordinary Time. 

Feast of St. Martin of Tours, 2025

Authors

Esau McCaulley+

Amanda Rosengren+

Tish Harrison Warren+

Jonathan Warren Pagán+

Signees

Jordan Kologe

Diocese of The Rocky Mountains

Kara Griffith

Diocese of Churches for the Sake of Others

Elizabeth Elmers

Diocese of the Rocky Mountains

Kathryn Watkins

Diocese of the Rocky Mountains

Chris Lugo

Diocese of the Mid Atlantic

Kyle Holtzhower

Anglican Diocese of South Carolina

Heather Ghormley

Diocese of the Great Lakes

Rob Sorensen

Diocese of the Rocky Mountains

Jacob Hootman

Diocese of Fort Worth

Aaron Harrison

Diocese of Churches for the Sake of Others

Heather Matthews

Diocese of Churches for the Sake of Others

Jamie Afshari

Diocese of Churches for the Sake of Others

Jesse Martin

Diocese of Cascadia

Jeremiah Webster

Diocese of the Rocky Mountains

John Haralson

Diocese of Churches for the Sake of Others

Ryan Landes

Anglican Diocese of South Carolina

Drew Billups

Diocese of Churches for the Sake of Others

Nelson Hall

Diocese of Churches for the Sake of Others

Joshua Fink

Anglican Diocese of the Carolinas

Jeremy Shelton

Anglican Diocese of South Carolina

Nathan Hale

Diocese of the Rocky Mountains

Jeanne Higgins 

Diocese of the Gulf Atlantic

Brian C. Morgan

Diocese of Christ our Hope

Bill Haley

Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic

Patrick Schlabs

Anglican Diocese of South Carolina

Newman Lawrence

Anglican Diocese of South Carolina

Emily Hunter McGowin

Diocese of Churches for the Sake of Others

Mary Amendolia Gardner

Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic

Matthew Wilkins

Diocese of the Carolinas

David D Wilson

Diocese of Pittsburgh

Mike Juday

Anglican Diocese of the Carolinas

Tim Melton

Diocese of the Carolinas

Corey Prescott

Anglican Diocese of South Carolina

John Gibson

Special Jurisdiction for Armed Forces and Chaplaincy

Brian Pape

Diocese of Christ Our Hope

Allan Theobald

Anglican Diocese of Canada

Juliet San Nicolas de Bradley

Diocese of Churches for the Sake of Others

Ryan Bradley

Diocese of Churches for the Sake of Others

Brian Goodwin

Diocese of Churches for the Sake of Others

Ben Acone

Diocese of the Rocky Mountains

Amy Rowe

Diocese of the Mid Atlantic

David Rowe

Anglican Diocese of South Carolina

Zachary Miller

Anglican Diocese of South Carolina

Nancy Nethercott Rund

Anglican Diocese of the Great Lakes

Katie Hamlin

Diocese of the Mid Atlantic

Cameron Crickenberger

Diocese of the Carolinas

Joshua Samuels

Diocese of Canada

Elizabeth Stewart

Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh

Tim Clayton

Anglican Diocese of New England

Ryan Brotherton

Diocese of Cascadia

Christopher H. Brown

Diocese of the Gulf Atlantic

Steven Tompkins

Diocese of Cascadia

Nate Kellogg

Diocese of the Rocky Mountains

Joe McCulley

Diocese of Cascadia

Eric Henningfeld

Special Jurisdiction for Armed Forces and Chaplaincy

Sheryll Qualls

Diocese of the Carolinas

John Gullett

Anglican Diocese of the Carolinas

Luke Deman

Anglican Diocese of South Carolina

Will Klauber

Anglican Diocese of South Carolina

Ross Wagner

Diocese of Christ Our Hope

Louise Weld

Anglican Diocese of South Carolina

Janet Roberts Echols 

Anglican Diocese of South Carolina 

Hank Tarlton

Diocese of Christ our Hope

Zach Barton

Anglican Diocese of South Carolina 

Peet Dickinson

Anglican Diocese of South Carolina 

Hunter Myers

Anglican Diocese of South Carolina 

Isaac Bradshaw

Diocese of New England

Hunter Jordan

Anglican Diocese of South Carolina 

Virginia Musselman 

Anglican Diocese of the Carolinas

Ricky McCarl

REC NEMA

Leah Wall

Anglican Diocese of Canada

Nelson Weaver

Anglican Diocese of South Carolina

Rob Patterson

Diocese of Churches for the Sake of Others

Robert Lawrence

Anglican Diocese of South Carolina

Bree Snow

Anglican Diocese of the Carolinas

Matthew Aughtry

Diocese of Churches for the Sake of Others

Jordan Warner

Diocese of Churches for the Sake of Others

Jeremy Goebel

Anglican Diocese of the South

Kyle Logan

Diocese of Cascadia

Eric Fesmire

Diocese of Christ our Hope

Kester Smith

Diocese of Churches for the Sake of Others

Erin Bair

Diocese of the Mid Atlantic

Krista Vossler

Diocese of Churches for the Sake of Others

Ron McGowin

Diocese of Churches for the Sake of Others

Taylor Daniel

Anglican Diocese of South Carolina

Charles A. Collins, Jr.

Southeast (REC)

Drew Miller

Anglican Diocese of South Carolina

Peter White

Diocese of Churches for the Sake of Others

Teesha Hadra

Diocese of Churches for the Sake of Others

Allison Lewis

Diocese of the Carolinas

Brad Lindsay

Diocese of Churches for the Sake of Others

Donald Shepson

Diocese of Pittsburgh

Anson Ann

Diocese of Canada

Allan Tan

Diocese of Canada

Jason Varnadore

Anglican Diocese of South Carolina

Anna Spray

Diocese of Canada

Erin Chin

Diocese of Churches for the Sake of Others

Daniel N. Gullotta

Diocese of All Nations

Hamilton Smith

Anglican Diocese of South Carolina

Daniel Wolf

Anglican Diocese of New England

Elizabeth Bumpas

Anglican Diocese of South Carolina

Gina Roes

Anglican Diocese of the Carolinas

Collin Reed

Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh

Shannon Reed 

Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh

Kevin Miller

Diocese of Churches for the Sake of Others

Edmond Ragland Coxe

Anglican Diocese of South Carolina

MaryEllen Doran

Anglican Diocese of South Carolina

Carter Smith-Stepper

Diocese of Cascadia

Richard Sandlin

Diocese of Canada

Joseph Calandra, Jr.

Special Jurisdiction for the Armed Forces and Chaplaincy 

Tyler Prescott

Anglican Diocese of South Carolina

Stefan Taylor

Diocese of Carolinas

Jason Fry

Diocese of the Mid Atlantic

Kendall Harmon

Anglican Diocese of South Carolina

Justin Lokey

Diocese of Christ our Hope

Ben Edstrom

Yellowstone Missionary District/DWA. 

Claudia Carucci 

Anglican Diocese of South Carolina

Jennifer Keifer

Anglican Diocese of New England

Dawn Lundgren

Diocese of Pittsburgh

Noel Collins

Diocese of Southwest

Kurt Hein

Diocese of Forth Worth

Justin Clemente

Diocese of the South

Colby Truesdell

Diocese of the Carolinas

Jennifer L. Hughes

Diocese of Churches for the Sake of Others

Jonathan Bennett

Anglican Diocese of South Carolina

Maryanna Stumbaugh

Anglican Diocese of the Great Lakes

Megan Greto

Diocese of Churches for the Sake of Others

Chris Hill

Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh

Carol Brooks 

Diocese of Churches for the Sake of Others

Charles Echols

Anglican Diocese of South Carolina

Stefan Taylor

Diocese of the Carolinas

Will Henry Lawrence (postulant)

Diocese of the Gulf Atlantic

Sarah Lindsey

Diocese of Churches for the Sake of Others

Nancy Scammacca Lewis

Diocese of Churches for the Sake of Others

Aaron White

Anglican Diocese of the Carolinas

Becki Neumann

Diocese of the Mid Atlantic

Summer Gross

Anglican Diocese of the Great Lakes